Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-24
r.4NxEg DOODLE.


AbA hHaAAhAt untSAONy on WAAt mas Il
Become - National Air.
In long article on notable American |
national airs, the B}ston Herald has this 10 |
say Of an old favorite:
Yankee poodlen will never die, 80 long
as the country will live. There ia general
belief that tho tune is OF American origin, |
bnt such Is not the fact. In England, pre-
yinns TO the time OF Charles l., an air by no
means dissIlnilar to our saucy tune was
cnnmen among the peasantry; and during
iLs fhRa OF Cromwell the air was set to
Nirl,us iiitias In ridieule Of the great lord
protector. ono Of those ditties began with
the words, 1.-THE Roundheads and tho
Cavaliers" and another set OF words was
called "Nankee Doodle" and this song
throughout bears striking resemblance to
some OF the popular stanzas which We're
commontn the American colonies almos
from their settlement to the days OF th
revolution. During the French war OF i75d
the provincial army, sent ngntust Niagara
and FrOntenac, was commanded by Gov.
Smiley OF Massachusetts aud Gen, John sun
OF New York. Through ths early part oi thu
season the army lay eneutnpei on the Hnd
son, a little below Albany. wtile the Troops
were In this position they wera continually
receiving recruits from tho Now England
colonies In the form OF drafts and volun-
teers. They came in, company after COM
| pnny, Just as they had issued from their
| farms and ilresides, and their appearance
| is suid TO have equaled any specimen OF
/ the i1dcrous eyer exhibited, IA special ex
| cepuon being made 10 the case OF Jack
/ Fnlstaff's ragged recruits. Some OF them
| had long hair, and some wore crops,
/ while otHeIs again wore enormous full
hottOmed wigs The color OF their suits were
| OF all the hues OF tho rainbow, and some
| had long coats, some short coats, while
| some had no coats whatever; and their
accoutrements were quite as varied as we're
| their costume. or course they created a
| fund OF sport for the regular British grena-
der. The music which proceeded from the
| fires and drums Of these volunteers was
quite antiquated, and had not bsen
/ heard la the British army for centuries, and
| this gave rise to more amusement. In
the army Of the British, at the, time, was a
| Surgeon Shaekbury, who was skilled
musician as well as great wag. He at
| once turned the powers of his riiieule to
the Yankee volunteers, and determined to
pass on joke by composing tune for
their particular use, and he accordingly re-
modelled the old air Of "Nankee DOODLE =
and, calling II Yankee Doodle" recon-
meRded It to the new corners as one Of the
most celebrated airs that his country had
ever produced. The surgeons mock, how
ever fell fiat, for the air has became as i'm
moral as "Rule Britannia" The coloI ial
volunteers admired the tune, and, notwith
| of the regulars, 1t soon became a general
faynrite through the whole American camp
| Numerous sets of words have been put t.
the air, but perhaps the best which have
| over como under ths notice of the writer
were those written IN 1872, when we were
Just ON thu verge u war with the mother
country
Cone, ya lads who wlsh to shine
Bright In future story,
II ,ste to arms and form the lins
! That leads to martial glory.
Baat the drum, the trumpet sound,
Manly and united,
Danger face, maintain your ground,
And soc your country righted.
Columbia, when her eagles reused,
And her nag Is rearing,
viii always find her sons disposed
To druo the foe that's daring.
, Hearts Of oak, protect the coast,
Pour your naval thunder,
While 90 shore mighty host
Shall strike the world with wonder.
Haste to Qlebecs towering walls
Through the British regions;
4 Hark Montgomerys spirit calls,
Drive the hostile legions.
Il Honor lor the brave to share,
il Is the nohlest booty;
Guard your rights, protect the fair
> For that's soldiers duty.
Charge the musket, point the lance,
! Brave the worst Of dangers;
Is Tell 10 Britain aud to France
Tint we to fear ars strangers.